D Gukesh, India’s chess prodigy, became the youngest-ever World Chess Champion after defeating China’s Ding Liren at the Candidates Tournament in Singapore and securing a place in the World Championship match.
Gukesh won three games, whereas Liren claimed two victories in the 14 classical games. Nine games ended in draws before Liren made a blunder in the final match, leading to Gukesh’s win.
Gukesh shared insights into his journey on the Quest Talk podcast and admitted that it was far from smooth. He said that overconfidence almost ruined his campaign. “My overconfidence in the first World Championship match made me lose. I played a horrible game, and then I kind of woke up from the dream,” he said.
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Gukesh had white pieces in the opening game; however, Liren struck first. He recalled a brief conversation with Vishwanathan Anand in the hotel elevator, where Anand gave him a perspective. Talking about his 2008 title clash, Anand said, “I had 11 games to come back. You have 13.”
After that, Gukesh took a break from chess. He spent a day at a theme park, chilled at the beach, went ziplining, and even headed to the ice cream park. “That day helped me recharge. I got the mental break I needed,” he added.
